Ben Hanback: Enjoy the present moment

Sep. 1, 2013

Written by

Ben Hanback

For The Tennessean

In 1996, my friends and I managed to work our way into the Dallas Cowboys locker room after their victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX.

There we were. High-fiving Deion Sanders, watching Lesley Visser interview Troy Aikman and at one point, holding the Vince Lombardi trophy. After about 45 minutes we decided to leave, thinking there might be another, better place to be. A party somewhere, maybe? But, after some time, we wound up standing behind Sun Devil Stadium thinking: “What did we just do? Did we actually just walk out of the Super Bowl locker room? AGH!”

In today’s fast-paced business world we tend to always look for the next best thing. We never truly enjoy the present moment. With that in mind, here are three ways to help you, your company, and your employees stop and smell the roses.

Celebrate wins

Whether it’s a new customer, a new product or even a business anniversary, make sure you and your employees take time to celebrate achievements regularly. This strategy will improve employee good will and also improve productivity.

I had the chance to tour the Zappos headquarters in Las Vegas a few years ago, and that company celebrates in some fantastic ways. Zappos lauds new sales by allowing its employees to thank the customer creatively. It could be a thank-you note, flowers, cookies or maybe a coupon for a future purchase — and it’s the Zappos associates who decide what to send. Think about that concept: Employees who buy in to the corporate goals are sure to perform at a higher level.

Recognize and reward

My father worked in the recognition industry for almost his whole career and still consults with companies on their programs. He’ll tell you that recognition is one of the easiest things you can do and it can be as important in the long run as pay and benefits, especially with tenured employees. Employee recognition will give you the best possible ROI with the least amount of time as well. Keep these rules in mind:

Individualized: Employees will appreciate something that is representative of their values and beliefs (a donation to a charity of their choice, for instance).

Deserved:Make sure the recognition is tied to a specific goal or achievement.

Timely: Don’t wait three weeks to recognize an outstanding performance — do it immediately.

Embrace experiences

In the song “My Next 30 Years,” Tim McGraw sings about slowing down and changing his behaviors. I get that. I spent the first 20 years of my career looking for the next sale, new title, pay raise or bigger office. Today my focus is on experiences … with a client, a co-worker or my family.

With whom will you spend your time, and what will you be doing? My clients would much rather attend a charity or sporting event with my team than receive a tin of popcorn over the holidays. Time spent with your important relationships will pay off big. You can provide a lasting memory and be a better business owner, co-worker and family member.

My friends and I have a saying if we’re having a great time and someone suggests leaving: “You don’t leave the locker room of the Super Bowl!” Consider the suggestions above, and you, too, can become a better business professional when you learn to savor the moment.